Ind. Code ch. 16-27.5-5

Ind. Code ch. 16-27.5-5
in effect

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-1 Definitions

Sec. 1. (a) As used in this chapter, "health care professional" means any of the following: (1) A physician licensed under IC 25-22.5. (2) A dentist licensed under IC 25-14. (3) A chiropractor licensed under IC 25-10-1. (4) A nurse licensed under IC 25-23-1. (5) A podiatrist licensed under IC 25-29. (6) An optometrist licensed under IC 25-24. (7) A physical therapist licensed under IC 25-27 or a physical therapy assistant certified under IC 25-27. (8) A speech-language pathologist or an audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6-3. (9) A speech-language pathology aide or an audiology aide (as defined in IC 25-35.6-1-2). (10) An: (A) occupational therapist licensed; or (B) occupational therapy assistant licensed; under IC 25-23.5. (11) A social worker licensed under IC 25-23.6 or a clinical social worker licensed under IC 25-23.6. (12) A pharmacist licensed under IC 25-26-13. (b) As used in this chapter, "home health aide services" means only those home health services that may be performed by a home health aide under this chapter and 42 CFR 484.80. (c) As used in this chapter, "supervision" means guidance provided by a qualified health care professional to a subordinate for the purpose of accomplishing a function or activity. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-2 Registration requirements; renewal; inservice training; fee prohibited

Sec. 2. (a) An individual shall do the following to become a registered home health aide: (1) Apply for registration in the manner prescribed by the commission. (2) Complete a competency evaluation program described in section 5 of this chapter. (b) An individual applying for registration under this chapter shall provide on the individual's application the individual's: (1) full name; (2) telephone number; (3) mailing address; and (4) electronic mail address; and any other information required by the state department and commission. (c) Registration under this section is valid for two (2) years. The state department may prescribe the manner in which to renew the registration. An individual registered under this section who wants to renew the registration shall do so in the manner prescribed by the state department. (d) Before directing the state department to issue or renew a registration to an individual who applies for registration under this section, the commission may require the individual to personally appear before the commission to discuss questions concerning the individual's application. (e) In order to renew a registration under this section, a home health aide shall complete inservice training required under section 4 of this chapter during the two (2) year registration period. (f) The commission or state department may not require a home health aide to pay a fee for registration, including a renewal fee. (g) The application requirements for certification under this chapter must comply with federal law. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-3 Requirements

Sec. 3. An individual who is a home health aide, or the equivalent in another state, shall do the following to be registered as a home health aide in Indiana: (1) Apply for registration in the manner prescribed by the state department. (2) Submit proof that the individual is a home health aide in good standing and does not have a verified complaint in another state. (3) Submit to a national criminal history background check under IC 25-1-1.1-4. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-4 Inservice training; hours; exception; documentation

Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a home health aide registered under this chapter shall complete at least twelve (12) inservice training hours each calendar year, including a minimum of eight (8) hours in the following topics: (1) Communication skills, including the ability to read, write, and provide brief and accurate oral presentations to patients, caregivers, and other home health agency staff. (2) Observing, reporting, and documenting patient care and patient status. (3) Reading and recording temperature, pulse, and respiration. (4) Infection control. (5) Basic elements of body functioning, including changes that must be reported to a home health aide's supervisor. (6) Maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment. (7) Safety and emergency procedures. (8) The physical, emotional, and development needs of populations served by a home health agency, including patient privacy, safety, and respect. (9) Appropriate and safe techniques in personal hygiene, including bathing and oral hygiene. (10) Safe transfer techniques and ambulation. (11) Normal range of motion and positioning. (12) Adequate nutrition and fluid intake. (13) Management and administration of medication. (14) Any other task a home health agency may require a home health aide to perform. (b) In a registered home health aide's first year on the registry established under IC 16-27.5-1, the number of hours of training must be prorated, as determined by the commission. (c) Except for a home health agency that has a probationary license, any organization may provide home health aide inservice training described in this section. (d) A registered nurse shall provide or supervise the inservice training described in this section. A home health agency shall maintain documentation concerning the inservice training. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-5 Competency evaluation program requirements

Sec. 5. A home health aide competency evaluation program must: (1) operate in accordance with 42 CFR 484.80; and (2) address each topic described in section 4(a) of this chapter. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.96-2026, SEC.21; P.L.118-2026, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-6 Prohibition

Sec. 6. An individual may not provide home health aide services unless the individual is registered as a home health aide under this chapter. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-7 Supervision by health care professional

Sec. 7. A health care professional shall supervise a home health aide in the provision of care to ensure competent care is provided. Supervision of services must be within the health care professional's scope of practice. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-8 Information required for registry

Sec. 8. Information required for entry of a home health aide in the registry established under IC 16-27.5-1 must be the same as the information required for nurse aides under 42 CFR 483.156(c). As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-9 Notice of change of address

Sec. 9. A registered home health aide shall notify the commission of any change in the registered home health aide's mailing address or electronic mail address not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which the address changed. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-10 Approved dementia training

Sec. 10. (a) This section applies to a registered home health aide who: (1) is employed as a home health aide; and (2) provides care to an individual who has been diagnosed with or experiences symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or a related cognitive disorder. (b) As used in this section, "approved dementia training" refers to a dementia training program: (1) for use in training home health aides in the care of individuals described in subsection (a)(2); and (2) that has been approved by the commission under subsection (f). (c) Not later than sixty (60) days after the date on which a home health aide is initially hired to care for an individual with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or a related cognitive disorder, the home health aide shall complete at least six (6) hours of approved dementia training. (d) Before December 31 of each year, a home health aide who has been employed as a home health aide for at least one (1) year shall complete at least three (3) hours of approved dementia training. (e) A home health aide who: (1) has received the training required by subsections (c) and (d); (2) has been employed as a home health aide for at least twenty-four (24) consecutive months; and (3) is hired by a home health agency; is not required to repeat the training required by this section. (f) The commission shall do the following: (1) Approve each dementia training program that meets the following requirements: (A) The dementia training program includes education concerning the following: (i) The nature of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other related cognitive disorders. (ii) Current best practices for caring for and treating individuals with dementia. (iii) Guidelines for the assessment and care of an individual with dementia. (iv) Procedures for providing patient centered quality care. (v) The daily activities of individuals with dementia. (vi) Dementia related behaviors, communication, and positive intervention. (vii) The role of an individual's family in caring for an individual with dementia. (B) The dementia training program: (i) must be culturally competent; and (ii) may be provided online. (2) Direct the state department to establish and implement a process for approval of a dementia training program. (g) To the extent allowed by 42 CFR 484.80, the number of hours of approved dementia training completed under this section satisfies an equivalent number of hours of the home health aide training required by 42 CFR 484.80. (h) An entity that provides approved dementia training shall provide to each home health aide who successfully completes the training a certificate of completion. (i) A home health aide: (1) is responsible for maintaining the home health aide's certificate of completion; and (2) may use the certificate of completion as proof of compliance with this section. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24. Amended by P.L.23-2026, SEC.128.

Ind. Code § 16-27.5-5-11 Conditions required to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings; training

Sec. 11. (a) A registered home health aide may administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings to a specific patient only if the following conditions are met: (1) The registered home health aide has completed the training curriculum described in subsection (b). (2) A registered nurse, providing registered nursing under IC 25-23-1-1.1(b)(6), either: (A) supervises the registered home health aide in administering the gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings; or (B) delegates responsibility for administering the gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings to the registered home health aide based on the registered nurse's assessment of the registered home health aide's competency to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings. (3) The home health agency that the registered home health aide is employed with: (A) allows the registered home health aide to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings; (B) establishes a procedure for: (i) the delegation of the administration of gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings from a registered nurse to a registered home health aide that includes patient specific clinical parameters based on the registered nurse's assessment of the patient and the registered home health aide's competency to administer the gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings; and (ii) the assessment by the registered nurse of the patient specific clinical parameters; (C) retains documentation that the registered home health aide has completed the training curriculum described in subsection (b); and (D) notifies each patient requiring gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings upon admission that the home health aide agency may allow registered home health aides to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings. (b) Training curriculum for home health aides to administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings must: (1) be approved by the commission; and (2) include the following concerning the administration of gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings: (A) At least four (4) hours and not more than eight (8) hours of classroom training. (B) At least two (2) hours and not more than four (4) hours of practical training. (C) A written and practical examination administered by the trainer. (c) A registered home health aide may not administer gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings until the home health aide has successfully: (1) completed the curriculum described in subsection (b); and (2) passed the examinations described in subsection (b)(2)(C). (d) The commission may require a registered home health aide who administers gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings under this section to annually complete not more than one (1) hour of inservice training specific to the administration of gastrointestinal and jejunostomy tube feedings. As added by P.L.143-2025, SEC.24.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/16Fetched: 10/17/2026

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